at an advert for a Scottish hotel that says "Children welcome, aged over 10"

[pingu2209]

To me, that means children are not welcome. It was quite a surprise how many of the hotels did not want younger children in their hotels.

Why can't there be a 'nice' luxury hotel that is ALSO family friendly in the UK?

[BadPoet]

I agree with you that the hotel you described is not really family friendly, and it's not very clever of them to market themselves like that. Just go straight for 'no children' (dh and I went last year to a childfree hotel and it was utter bliss, just what we needed at that point in time).

However YABU if you think there are no luxury, family friendly hotels in the UK. There are loads!

[emptyshell]

Their hotel - their rules. There must be a market for it or they wouldn't do it.

It might be a shocking revelation (hell it usually is when it comes to wedding invites on here) but not everyone WANTS to spend their time surrounded by other people's kids. Don't those people have any choice about going somewhere they're going to be happy (and not sending the evil eyes to people with kids grizzling a bit thus making all concerned unhappy) - or is it just like usual where those people have no rights whatsoever?

I'd pay to stay there if I wanted a nice peaceful weekend away - it would be a selling point in that case.

[Sleepyspaniel]

Ah - misinterpretation of "we" there

Agree the family market is a biggie but still glad there's room for all, or where else would we go to get away from the screaming delightfuls?

[DrNortherner]

Yes sleepy that's why I said good luck to them. When I said WE need the family business I meant the company I work for, not we as in everyone.

Warner hotels specialise in adult only hotel breaks and seem to do alright out of it, but the family market is a lucrative business, one that the company I work for could not do without.

[Sleepyspaniel]

Child-free hotels.

[Sleepyspaniel]

DrNortherner, if ALL hotels welcomed babies and young children, don't you think that would alienate a huge section of the market immediately and create a demand for child-friendly hotels?

Not everyone "needs the family business - screaming kids and all". There is room for all in the market. It's like comparing McDonalds with The Ivy. The existence of McDonalds does not affect The Ivy and vice versa.

[DrNortherner]

Personally, speaking as someone who works in Marketing for an Internationla Hotel Group I think it's a dodgy strapline to go with. Isolates a huge section of your market immediatley. BUT, if that is their USP that they don't have kids under 10 then good luck to them. I'd be interested to see their revenue per available room and occupancy figures for July & August.

We need the family business. Screaming kids and all

[Sleepyspaniel]

Where is this hotel? Gimme number! (mother of a boisterous jolly toddler here).

Seriously though:

Why are people continually surprised that there are others who do not share the same view on children as themselves? It's PC gorn mad to think that a hotel can't have its own individual policy on the matter. At the end of the day it's a business. Presumably its customers are happy with their policy. I'm sure they would rethink if they had tumbleweed blowing through their rooms instead of guests. However that would be based on a commercial decision, not just pleasing parents of young children or older children or non-parents for the sake of it.

As a parent myself, there are times when I would like to get away to a nice hotel with my DH to have some child-free time. I think it great that there are hotels that cater for different requirements. Not everyone has children... wants children... wants to see/hear other people's children.. even those who HAVE children.

[fgaaagh]

chelstonmum, we stayed there for the wedding a few years ago now, and unfortunately due to finances it's unlikely we'll make it back there any time soon! my sister is in Glasgow though, so when we do visit her we tend to take in a few day trips (depending on the length of the visit of course!)

[chelstonmum]

fgaaagh Just realised where your sister got married....my parents live in Ayrshire. Hope you managed a trip to Culzean Castle and country park, our kids love it there.

[chelstonmum]

fgaaagh it is a real treat for all. we are looking forward to a few day's 'relaxation' in October.....with our 2 DC's and a new baby!

[stillfeel18inside]

I'm definitely on the side of the hotel (and I have children). There are loads of places that cater for families with young children - try the small luxury hotel group which owns Woolley Grange and quite a few others. I think it's perfectly reasonable to say over 10s only.

[fgaaagh]

chelstonmum we've stayed at the hydro in peebles here too actually, in February (at half term) with our 2, my sister's 2 and had a wonderful time - booked on the promise that DH would sit with the kids and I'd get at least one spa treatment! Worked a treat - best family holiday we've had in years (I hasten to add that DH got some childfree relaxation time too though, of course!)

[BelovedCunt]

there is a strain of scottish hotels that relies entirely on coach fulls of old people being forcibly driven to their dusty tartan lined hell holes and fleeced of all their life savings in return for a crappy room with noisy pipes and no hot water. the owners of these hotels have no soul and the sight of children causes them to break out in boils as they cannot extract any cash from them.

[fgaaagh]

well we've stayed here (for a wedding - my sister's - over a weekend) and that's a hotel that's perfectly family friendly. stayed in a few here in England too, although they've tended to be places with their own spa, and not in recent years due to DH's job.

there are plenty of family friendly luxury hotels, and plenty of family friendly non luxury ones too!

For the record, I understand (and prefer) hotels being up front about the market they cater for, and have the facilities for.

Not all hotels have lifts, not all of them have baby-friendly services like babysitting staff available round the clock - heck, I assume some restaurants don't even have high chairs if they don't actively target a family market - I'm thinking business hotels like near airports and stuff. or those near conference centers.

It makes complete sense from a business POV to operate like this - just like any other hospitality place - it's all about choosing your target market.

As long as they're not claiming to be one thing and are actually another -I'm not surprised or aggrevated that this is how businesses operate.

so sorry OP but YABU.

[chelstonmum]

I would reccomend any of the 'hydro' hotels, Crieff and Peebles are fab for kids. Crieff has a great kids menu, leisure facilities, horse riding and a great cinema for lazy rainy nights.

[Hammy02]

Sometimes adults want a place of complete peace. What's wrong with that? I know some children can behave and be quiet when necessary but many cannot. Nothing pisses me off more than when I book a hotel that says it is a tranquil retreat and then some muppet thinks, 'I know, I'll ruin that peace for everyone else by taking my noisy kid'. At least some hotels are aware of their market and set rules for who can stay there.

[stuffthenonsense]

Oh I am on the side of the hotel!
I have actively sought out child unfriendly hotels in the not too distant past, after all if I wanted children's noise to spoil a romantic weekend, I would not have paid a babysitter.
Of course, the romantic getaways were so romantic I am now seeking baby friendly hotels again.

As for the age discrimination issue on goods and services-i often wonder at 'free swims for under 16s/over 60s' pensioner deals on meals, and free tv Licences, I don't begrudge them at all but isn't it age discrimination?

[thumbwitch]

Bibury Court Hotel is rather fab and allowed us to take our

[safran]

One of my most favorite holidays was on a tiny island with a no under 18's policy. It was quiet, calm and the most chilled place I ever visited. Every time my DH and I get stressed with the kids I threaten to run away there and never come back!
Their hotel , their rules- I just don't see the problem.

[sunnydelight]

I don't think it is true that "you are either family friendly or you're not". What they are basically saying is that kids are welcome at an age when they are unlikely to disturb other guests, the age they have set might seem a bit old but I guess that is because there are an awful lot of very badly behaved little kids out there generally caused by parents who are so busy demanding their rights they overlook the rights of others.

I would far prefer a place to be totally upfront about who they cater for, that way I can make a choice and take my kids where they will be welcome. As someone with three older children I now actively look for hotels that don't have kids clubs or advertise themselves as "child friendly". Lots of families we know do the same.

[TheHumanCatapult]

I have 4 kids and sorry but If i am staying somewhere for a special treat minus my own dc .

I do not want other little kids around. .So can understand why they said no under 10 . They are aiming at a paticular group of people and if they see a gap in the market then good for them .

There are plenty of other good luxury hotels that are more family friendly and not just the basic ones .

[ProfYaffle]

I saw one hotel (can't remember it's name) advertising itself as 'an ideal venue for family get togethers' but 'no children allowed'